NEWS

Yoga with Goats: This really happened in Muncie

Rebecca Bream
rbream@muncie.gannett.com
Studio Exhale instructor Stephanie Hutchison led a "Yoga With Goats" class at the Muncie Animal Care and Services facility Thursday night. The sold out event, which raised funds for the shelter, put yoga students in close proximity with a herd of goats. Attendees were given time at the end of each class to interact with the animals.

MUNCIE, Ind. — First there was yoga, then "Yoga with Cats," and now, there's "Yoga with Goats."

As seen on social media, it's the latest yoga trend on the rise — making its way across the U.S. including right here in Muncie.

Studio Exhale instructor Stephanie Hutchison didn't hesitate to fill Muncie Animal Care and Services with 10 goats and dozens of "yogis" Wednesday for the new "Yoga with Goats" event.

Both the 6:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. classes had 25 filled spots (not including goats), which sold out within the first 24 hours after the event was announced last week.

It's what you'd expect to happen when you bring together the relaxation of yoga and the feeling of being near a small animal, especially when part of the $20 registration fee goes toward MACS.

"Stephanie had the idea, she had seen it online and asked if we could do it if she could make it happen, and I said heck yeah," Phil Peckinpaugh, Director for MACS, said. "Muncie's ahead of it's time, we're on it."

Hutchison contacted Brittany Swackhamer, owner of the Capricorn Starr and Tammy's Iris Acres Herds in Cicero, to set up the event.

Swackhamer and her family agreed to be a part of Studio Exhale and MACS' newest yoga event, and brought their three adult and seven baby Pygmy goats.

"These three adults (goats) are used to going to shows, so they're used to going to see strangers at strange places," Swackhamer said. "The seven babies haven't left the house, it's a new experience for them. They'll probably be scared at first, funny building, funny sounds, but they're really used to people."

As seen on the event's Facebook page, community members were excited to share their yoga mat with the goats.

So eager, in fact, that several participants admitted they had never done yoga before, but wanted to try it because of the goats.

Besides the chance of the goats being timid, Swackhamer made sure participants were aware ahead of time that goats go to the bathroom when they're excited.

Studio Exhale instructor Stephanie Hutchison led a "Yoga With Goats" class at the Muncie Animal Care and Services facility Thursday night. The sold out event, which raised funds for the shelter, put yoga students in close proximity with a herd of goats. Attendees were given time at the end of each class to interact with the animals.

But that didn't stop many people from coming, even though Swackhamer was right.

At the beginning of the event there had only been one spot cancellation.

Those who couldn't get a spot in the classes had the chance to come out and pay $10 to meet the goat gang.

When asked if "Yoga with Goats" will raise more money than the previous and successful "Yoga with Cats" events, Peckinpaugh said absolutely.

But although people were able to take cats home from those events, the goats had to go back home with Swackhamer.

The next "Yoga with Cats" event is 6:30 p.m. May 18 at MACS.

For more information and updates, visit the Muncie Animal Shelter Facebook Page.

Studio Exhale instructor Stephanie Hutchison led a "Yoga With Goats" class at the Muncie Animal Care and Services facility Thursday night. The sold out event, which raised funds for the shelter, put yoga students in close proximity with a herd of goats. Attendees were given time at the end of each class to interact with the animals.